Victor J. Stenger
Victor J. Stenger | |
---|---|
UCLA | |
Spouse | Phylliss Marcia Stenger (m. 1962)[2] |
Children | Noelle Green, Victor Andrew[1] |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Particle physics, philosophy |
Thesis | Low Energy K+d Scattering and the I=0 KN Interaction[1] (1963) |
Doctoral advisor | Harold K. Ticho |
Victor John Stenger (
Following a career as a
An advocate for removing the influence of religion from scientific research, commercial activity, and the political process,[4] Stenger coined the quote: "Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings".[5]
Personal life
Victor J. Stenger was born on January 29, 1935, and raised in a working-class neighborhood of
Career
Education and employment
Stenger attended public schools in Bayonne, New Jersey, and received a
He was a member of the Department of Physics at the
Scientist
Stenger's first peer-reviewed work was published in 1964, and his research career continued until his retirement in 2000. His research involved work that determined properties of
Philosopher and skeptic
Stenger was an advocate of
Stenger took part in the 2008 "Origins Conference" hosted by the
In 1992, Uri Geller sued Stenger and Prometheus Books for $4 million, claiming defamation for questioning his "psychic powers." The suit was dismissed and Geller was ordered to pay court costs.[13]
Astronomer Luke Barnes argued in a 2012 paper that many of Stenger's claims about fine-tuning were problematic and that his arguments were fallacious.[14] Stenger responded that Barnes misunderstood and misrepresented his positions.[15]
Professional and community positions
- President, 1990–94 Hawaiian Humanists
- Member of Editorial Board, Free Inquiry
- Member of Society of Humanist Philosophers
- Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry[16]
- Fellow of the Center for Inquiry
- President, 2002–06, Colorado Citizens for Science
Publications by Stenger
Books for general audiences
- Not by Design: The Origin of the Universe, Prometheus Books, 1988, p. 202, ISBN 978-0-87975-451-8, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- Physics and Psychics: The Search for a World Beyond the Senses, Prometheus Books, 1990, p. 323, ISBN 978-0-87975-575-1, archived from the originalon 2014-10-19, retrieved 2014-07-18
- The Unconscious Quantum: Metaphysics in Modern Physics and Cosmology, Prometheus Books, 1995, pp. 322, ISBN 978-1-57392-022-3, retrieved 2014-08-09
- Timeless Reality: Symmetry, Simplicity, and Multiple Universes, Prometheus Books, 2000, p. 396, ISBN 978-1-57392-859-5, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- Has Science Found God? The Latest Results in the Search for Purpose in the Universe, Prometheus Books, 2003, p. 373, ISBN 978-1-59102-018-9, archived from the originalon 2014-10-19, retrieved 2014-08-09
- The Comprehensible Cosmos: Where Do the Laws of Physics Come From?, Prometheus Books, 2006, pp. 340, ISBN 978-1-59102-424-8, retrieved 2014-07-18
- God: The Failed Hypothesis: How Science Shows That God Does Not Exist, Prometheus Books, 2007, p. 287, ISBN 978-1-59102-481-1, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- Quantum Gods: Creation, Chaos, and the Search for Cosmic Consciousness, Prometheus Books, 2009, p. 292, ISBN 978-1-59102-713-3, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason, Prometheus Books, 2009, p. 282, ISBN 978-1-59102-751-5, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning: Why the Universe Is Not Designed for Us, Prometheus Books, 2011, p. 345, ISBN 978-1-61614-443-2, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- God and the Folly of Faith: The Incompatibility of Science and Religion, Prometheus Books, 2012, p. 408, ISBN 978-1-61614-599-6, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- God and the Atom, Prometheus Books, 2013, p. 300, ISBN 978-1-61614-753-2, archived from the originalon 2014-08-12, retrieved 2014-07-18
- God and the Multiverse, Prometheus Books, 2014, p. 447, ISBN 978-1-61614-970-3
Peer-reviewed articles
- Stenger, Victor; Slater, W. E.; Stork, D. H.; Ticho, H. K. (June 1964), "K−N Interaction in the I=0 State at Low Energies", Physical Review, 134 (B1111): B1111–B1123,
- Stenger, Victor (15 September 1984), "The Production of Very High Energy Photons and Neutrinos from Cosmic Proton Sources", The Astrophysical Journal, 284: 810–816, doi:10.1086/162463
- Stenger, Victor (3 October 1985), "Photinos from Cosmic Sources", Nature, 317 (6036): 411–413, S2CID 4312378
- Stenger, Victor (March–April 1986), "The Extraterrestrial Flux Sensitivity of Underground and Undersea Muon Detectors", Il Nuovo Cimento C, 9 (2): 479–487, S2CID 120549196
- Stenger, Victor (July 1990), "The Universe: the ultimate free lunch", European Journal of Physics, 11 (4): 236–243, S2CID 250784194
- Stenger, Victor (1999), "Bioenergetic Fields", The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, 3 (1), archived from the original on 2016-03-03
- Stenger, Victor (2000), "Natural Explanations for the Anthropic Coincidences" (PDF), Philo, 3 (2): 50–67, doi:10.5840/philo20003216, archived from the original(PDF) on 2014-04-11, retrieved 2014-07-18
Other essays
- Stenger, Victor (May–June 1993), "The Myth of Quantum Consciousness" (PDF), The Humanist, vol. 53, pp. 13–15, archived from the original on 2011-06-06
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Stenger, Victor (1996), "New Age Physics: Has Science Found the Path to the Ultimate?" (PDF), Free Inquiry, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 7–11, archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24, retrieved 2014-10-31
- Stenger, Victor (1996), "Cosmythology: Was the Universe Designed to Produce Us?", Skeptic, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 36–40
- Stenger, Victor (1996), "Quantum Metaphysics", in Brown, Laurence; Farr, Bernard; Hoffmann, Joseph (eds.), Modern Spiritualities: An Inquiry, Prometheus Books, pp. 243–253
- Stenger, Victor (1998), "Has Science Found God?", Free Inquiry, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 56–58, archived from the original on 2010-07-06, retrieved 2010-11-03
- Stenger, Victor (1999), "The Anthropic Coincidences: A Natural Explanation", Skeptical Intelligencer, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 2–17
- Stenger, Victor (July–August 1999), "Anthropic Design: Does the Cosmos Show Evidence of Purpose?", Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 23, no. 4, pp. 40–63, archived from the original on 2005-12-05
- Ramey, David; Stenger, Victor (1999), "Energy Medicine", Consumer's Guide to Alternative Therapies in the Horse, Howell Book House, pp. 55–66, ISBN 978-1582450629
- Stenger, Victor (2000), "The Pseudophysics of Therapeutic Touch", in Scheiber, Béla; Selby, Carla (eds.), Therapeutic Touch, Prometheus Books, pp. 302–311, ISBN 978-1-57392-804-5
- Stenger, Victor (2000), Intelligent Design: The New Stealth Creationism (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-31, retrieved 2015-11-12
- Stenger, Victor (2001), "Humanity in Time and Space", Free Inquiry, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 42–69
- Stenger, Victor (2001), "Time's Arrows Point Both Ways: The View From Nowhen" (PDF), Skeptic, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 90–95, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-23, retrieved 2013-08-01
- Stenger, Victor (September–October 2001), "The God of Falling Bodies", Skeptical Inquirer, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 46–49, archived from the original on 2017-07-13, retrieved 2010-11-03
- Stenger, Victor (2001), "The Breath of God: Identifying Spiritual Force", in Kurtz, Paul (ed.), Skeptical Odysseys, Prometheus Books, pp. 363–374, ISBN 978-1-57392-884-7
- Stenger, Victor (2003), "Anthropic Design: Does the Cosmos Show Evidence of Purpose?", in Kurtz, Paul (ed.), Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?, Prometheus Books, pp. 47–49, ISBN 978-1-59102-064-6
- Stenger, Victor (2003), "The Premise Keepers", Free Inquiry, vol. 23, no. 3
- Stenger, Victor (2004), "Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Us?", in Young, Matt; ISBN 978-0813538723
- Stenger, Victor (2005), "Flew's Flawed Science", Free Inquiry, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 17–18, archived from the original on 2006-05-02, retrieved 2010-11-04
- Stenger, Victor (2006), "The Scientific Case Against a God Who Created the Universe", in Martin, Michael; Monnier, Ricki (eds.), The Improbability of God, Prometheus Books, ISBN 978-1-59102-381-4
- Stenger, Victor (2006), "Do Our Values Come from God? The Evidence Says No" (PDF), Free Inquiry, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 42–45, archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-25, retrieved 2013-07-29
- Stenger, Victor (2007), "Clock Time", in Darity, William (ed.), International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd Edition, Macmillan Reference USA, ISBN 978-0028661179
- Stenger, Victor (2007), "Reality", in Darity, William (ed.), International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, 2nd Edition, Macmillan Reference USA, ISBN 978-0028661179
- Stenger, Victor (2008), "Physics, Cosmology, and the New Creationism", in Petto, Andrew; Godfrey, Laurie (eds.), Scientists Confront Creationism: Intelligent Design and Beyond, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., ISBN 978-0-393-33073-1
- Stenger, Victor (March 2008), "Is the Brain a Quantum Device?", Skeptical Briefs, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 9, 13
- Stenger, Victor (2008), "Where Can God Act? The New Quantum Theology", Free Inquiry, vol. 28, no. 5, pp. 1–36
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Arrow of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Asymmetry of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Operational Definition of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Universe, Origin of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Planck time", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Symmetry of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2009), "Time, Units of", in Birx, H. James (ed.), Encyclopedia of Time: Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture, SAGE Publications, Inc, ISBN 978-1412941648
- Stenger, Victor (2012), "Free Will and Autonomous Will", Skeptic, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 15–19
Columnist
From 1998 to 2011 Stenger wrote for the column "Reality Check," in Skeptical Briefs, the quarterly newsletter of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI).[17]
Since August 2010, he was also a regularly featured science columnist for the
Pantheon of skeptics
Stenger has been included in CSI's Pantheon of Skeptics. The Pantheon of Skeptics was created by CSI to remember the legacy of deceased fellows of CSI and their contributions to the cause of scientific skepticism.[19]
References
- ^ a b Stenger, Victor John. "Curriculum Vitae" (PDF). University of Colorado. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ a b "A Biography of Victor J. Stenger". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
- ^ Skeptics Society.
- ^ Stenger, Victor J. (9 March 2012). "The Fall of Foolish Faith". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ "Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings. - Victor Stenger - RichardDawkins.net". Old.richarddawkins.net. 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
- ^ Mehta, Hemant. "Victor Stenger, Physicist and Prolific Atheist Author, is Dead at 79". Patheos. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ^ a b "[Denver] Victor Stenger: "God: The Failed Hypothesis"". Center for Inquiry. Archived from the original on 2015-09-08. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ "Quantum Metaphysics". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ "Victor Stenger - God: The Failed Hypothesis". Point of Inquiry. 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ Vic Stenger (2008-08-19). "Victor J. Stenger". Colorado.edu. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the originalon 2014-04-11. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ "ORIGINS — the BIG Questions: 2008 Skeptics Society Conference: Dr. Victor Stenger". Origins.skeptic.com. Retrieved 2009-12-21.
- ^ "Uri Geller Libel Suit Dismissed". Skeptical Inquirer. August 1994. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11.
- S2CID 2951263.
- arXiv:1202.4359 [physics.pop-ph].
- ^ "CSI Board, Fellows, and Staff". Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Skeptical Briefs — Reality Check". 2 June 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ "Entries by Victor Stenger". Huffington Post. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ "The Pantheon of Skeptics". CSI. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
External links
- "Stenger's complete CV" (PDF). University of Colorado. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2015.
- Reviews of Stenger's books.
- Audio of interview with Stenger on the podcast/radio show "Freethought" by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.